Monthly Archives: February 2012
Dog helps children with their reading
Grace the dog helps ‘reluctant readers’ at Antingham and Southrepps Primary School
by Alex Hurrell , Reporter Thursday, February 2, 2012
6:44 PM
A wet nose and waggy tail set one ‘staff’ member apart at a north Norfolk primary school.
But what Grace lacks in official teacher training she more than makes up for in dogged patience and a soft furry coat.
The retriever-border collie cross has taken up residence in the head’s office every Thursday to help children with their reading.
“There’s no magic involved. It just seems to work,” said Grace’s owner Janice Kingman, head teacher at Antingham and Southrepps Primary School, near North Walsham.
Carer is relieved that ‘Day centre in Worcester will not close ‘
Relieved to hear son’s day centre is safe
1:30pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in
A CARER has spoken of his relief after a council boss quashed rumours that the day centre used by his disabled son would close.
Worcestershire County Council hopes to save £1.3 million through an overhaul of day centre services but some carers were concerned that this would mean some day centres closing, including Cherry Orchard in Worcester.
Ivan Fowler, aged 67, of Martley, near Worcester, together with his wife Pat care for their son Ben, 35, who has cerebral palsy and right-sided hemiplegia.
Mr Fowler said he was reassured by Maria Hicks, manager of provider services at Worcestershire County Council, who answered questions from an audience of 30 people at Perdiswell Young People’s Club yesterday at a meeting which was organised by the Worcestershire Association of Carers.
Care for elderly ‘let down by fragmented system’
MPs warned though that the future of social care should not be “dominated by a debate about the technical details of funding”.
8 February 2012 Last updated at 04:22
By Jane Dreaper Health correspondent, BBC News
Older people are being let down by a social care system in which they are “passed like a parcel” between services, a committee of MPs has said.
The Commons health select committee wants local areas in England to deliver “joined-up” care, health and housing.
Funding pressures were reducing older people’s quality of life, MPs added.
